Beach umbrella anchoring and drink holder assembly

ABSTRACT

A beach umbrella anchoring and drink holder assembly in the form of a hand wheel with cooperating drink retaining cups and an anchor. Setscrews secure the hand wheel and anchor r to the handle of a beach umbrella. The hand wheel is rotated to drive a spike to anchor the beach umbrella. Retaining rings connect a rim of the hand wheel to an annular flange affixed to the tubular hub of the hand wheel. The retaining rings of the hand wheel cooperate with lips on the drink retaining cups to retain the cups on the hand wheel conveniently around the handle of the beach umbrella. In a variation, the anchor member and hand wheel are connected to opposite ends of an elongated tubular leg to form a free-standing drink holder.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to beach umbrella anchoring devices and more particularly to a beach umbrella anchoring and drink holder assembly.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] Devices which serve the dual function of outdoor table and beach umbrella holder are well known in the prior art. These devices are designed to provide a table for outdoor use that can be supported on uneven surfaces and in addition support a beach umbrella. For example, the U.S. Pat. No. 4,920,897 issued May 1, 1990 to Reed et al teaches a beach and lawn table with umbrella holder. The table of Reed et al. has a hollow leg with a leg cap permanently bonded the upper end of the leg and a flanged table base permanently bonded to the lower end of the leg. An auger in the form of a steel rod with helical turns and a sharpened lower end is welded to a steel plate secured to the table base by pop rivets. The tabletop of the Reed et al. includes square axially disposed flange sized to fit over a lug on the leg cap. The tabletop is additionally used as a wrench to screw the auger into the ground. Reed et al. also shows that the hollow table leg is adapted to receive and secure the handle of a beach umbrella or other accessory.

[0005] U.S. Patent No. Des. 366,372 issued Jan. 23, 1996 to Skarda, Jr. shows a ground inserted two-piece beach table design. The table includes a hollow table leg having an auger formed at the lower end of the table leg. The table top includes a circular axially disposed flange for receiving the table leg and an opening permitting the insertion of a beach umbrella handle into the hollow table leg. The tabletop includes radial ribs and drain holes in a manner similar to the teachings of Reed et al. but additionally designed with a smooth surface for the tabletop and recesses that appear to support glasses and drink containers.

[0006] In U.S. Patent No. Des. 388,974 issued Jan. 13, 1998 to Piker an umbrella table designed with a hollow leg for receiving the handle of a beach umbrella is shown with a downwardly extending table skirt.

[0007] None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singularly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed. Thus a beach umbrella anchoring and drink holder assembly solving the aforementioned problems is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The present invention is a beach umbrella anchoring and drink holder assembly consisting of a hand wheel with cooperating drink retaining cups and an anchor member. Means are provided for securing the hand wheel and anchor member to the handle of a beach umbrella. The hand wheel is rotated to drive a spike and the helical thread on the anchor member into sand or loose soil to securely anchor the beach umbrella in place in an upright vertical position. Retaining rings connect a radial flange on the tubular hub of the hand wheel to the rim of the hand wheel. The retaining rings of the hand wheel cooperate with radially extending flanges or lips on drink retaining cups to retain the drink retaining cups on the hand wheel conveniently around the handle of the beach umbrella.

[0009] In a variation of the invention, the anchor member and hand wheel are connected to opposite ends of an elongated tubular leg to form a free-standing drink holder adapted for removably receiving the handle of a beach umbrella.

[0010] Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to provide a beach umbrella anchoring and drink holding assembly, which securely anchors the umbrella in sand or loose soil and forms an upright stand for holding drinks around the handle of the umbrella.

[0011] It is another object of the invention to provide a freestanding drink holder that may be driven into sand or loose soil that is adapted for removably receiving the handle of a beach umbrella.

[0012] It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof for the purposes described which is inexpensive, dependable and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes.

[0013] These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014]FIG. 1 is an environmental, perspective view of a beach umbrella anchoring and drink holder assembly according to the present invention.

[0015]FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the assembly according to the present invention.

[0016]FIG. 3 is a side view of an alternative embodiment of the beach umbrella anchoring and drink holder assembly according to the present invention.

[0017]FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the alternative embodiment according to the present invention.

[0018]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a drink-retaining cup according to the present invention.

[0019] Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0020] The invention is a beach umbrella anchoring and drink holder assembly. The assembly, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, is made up of a hand wheel 30 with co-operating drink retaining cups 36 and an anchor member 40, which can be rotatably driven into sand or loose soil. Structure is provided for securing the hand wheel 30 and anchor member 40 to the handle 21 of a beach umbrella 20.

[0021] As FIG. 2 shows, the hand wheel includes a tubular hub 31 with a radial flange 32 around the middle of the hub 31. A plurality of retaining rings 34 connects the radial flange 32 on the tubular hub 31 to the rim or outer ring 33 of the hand wheel 30. The retaining rings 34 of the hand wheel 30 are sized to engage the radially extending lip 37 of a drink retaining cup 36 set into the openings defined by the retaining rings 34.

[0022] The anchor member 40 includes a tubular receptacle 41 sized to receive an end of an umbrella handle 21. The closed bottom of the receptacle 41 is attached to a spike 42 and the lower exterior surface of the receptacle 41 is provided with a broad helical thread. The lower end of the receptacle thereby functions as an auger for driving the anchor member 40 into the sand or loose soil.

[0023] To set up the drink holder, the end portion of the handle 21 of a beach umbrella is passed through the tubular hub 31 and into the tubular receptacle 41 of the anchor member 40. The anchor member 40 is secured to the bottom of the handle 21 of the umbrella 20 by setscrews 44 passing through the cylindrical wall of the receptacle 41. The hand wheel 30 is adjustably positioned along the handle 21 and secured at a selected location by setscrews 35 passing through the cylindrical wall of the tubular hub 31.

[0024] The hand wheel 30 is rotated to drive the anchor member into the sand or soil and firmly anchor the umbrella 20 in an upright position. The retaining cups 36 are then placed in the openings defined by the retaining rings 34 of the hand wheel 30 for holding drinks conveniently around the handle 21 of the umbrella 20. It is to be understood that the retaining cups and retaining rings can be constructed to accommodate variously sized beverage containers.

[0025]FIGS. 3 and 4 show a variation of the present invention. The hand wheel and anchor member integrally formed and connected by an elongated hollow leg 45. Hollow leg 45 has an open upper end 46 and a closed bottom end that is pointed to define a ground-engaging spike 42. The lower exterior surface of the hollow leg 45 adjacent the spike 42 is provided with a broad helical thread 43. The lower end of the hollow leg 45 functions as an auger for driving and anchoring the spiked lower end of the hollow leg 45 in sand or loose soil. A hand wheel in the form of a radially extending flange is secured to the hollow leg 45 adjacent the open upper end 46.

[0026] The hand wheel includes a radial array of circular cutouts 48 for receiving the retaining cups 36 once the device has been securely anchored. The wheel is rotated to drive the spiked lower end of the hollow leg 45 and helical thread into sand or soil to anchor the hollow leg 45. Retaining cups 36 are set into the circular cutouts 48 of the hand wheel to form a freestanding drink holder. The open end of the hollow leg 45 is sized to allow the handles of variously sized beach umbrellas to be removably received and supported in the hollow leg 45 of the drink holder. The umbrella handle 21 is secured within the hollow leg 45 by a pair of opposed setscrews 35.

[0027] It is to be understood that the retaining rings 34, circular cutouts 48 and retainer cups can be modified to hold variously sized drink containers.

[0028] It is also to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims. 

I claim:
 1. A beach umbrella anchoring and drink holder assembly comprising: a hand wheel; an anchor member; a plurality of drink retaining cups; means for removably securing said drink retaining cups onto said hand wheel; and means for securing said hand wheel and said anchor member to the handle of a beach umbrella.
 2. The beach umbrella anchoring and drink holder assembly of claim 1, wherein said hand wheel includes a cylindrical hub with a radially extending flange.
 3. The beach umbrella anchoring and drink holder assembly of claim 2, wherein said drink retainer cups are cylindrical and include radially extending lips around the mouths of the cups.
 4. The beach umbrella anchoring and drink holder assembly of claim 2, wherein said hand wheel further includes a plurality of cup retaining rings, and an outer ring co-axially connected to said hub by said plurality of cup retaining rings.
 5. The beach umbrella anchoring and drink holder assembly of claim 4, wherein said drink retaining cups are cylindrical and include radially extending lips around the mouths of the cups which cooperate with the cup retaining rings to form the means for removably securing said drink retaining cups on said hand wheel.
 6. The beach umbrella anchoring and drink holder assembly of claim 5, wherein said anchor member comprises a cylindrical receptacle having an open end and a closed end, said closed end being attached to a ground engaging spike and provided with a broad helical thread around the exterior surface thereof.
 7. The beach umbrella anchoring and drink holder assembly of claim 6, wherein the means for securing the hand wheel and anchor member to the handle of a beach umbrella comprises a first pair of opposed setscrews passing through said cylindrical receptacle and a second pair of opposed setscrews passing through said cylindrical hub.
 8. A freestanding drink holder and beach umbrella anchoring assembly comprising: a hollow leg having an open upper end and a closed bottom end and being sized to receive the handle of a beach umbrella; a ground-engaging spike formed on the closed bottom end of said hollow leg; a broad helical thread secured to the exterior surface of said hollow leg adjacent said ground-engaging spike; a hand wheel in the form of a wide annular flange around said hollow leg adjacent said open upper end; a plurality of drink retaining cups; and means for removably securing said drink-retaining cups onto said hand wheel.
 9. The freestanding drink holder and beach umbrella anchoring assembly of claim 8, wherein said annular flange includes a radial array of circular cutouts sized to receive said drink retaining cups.
 10. The freestanding drink holder and beach umbrella anchoring assembly of claim 9, wherein said drink retaining cups are cylindrical and said means for removably securing said drink retaining cups onto said hand wheel includes a radially extending lips around the openings of said drink retaining cups.
 11. The freestanding drink holder and beach umbrella anchoring assembly of claim 8, wherein said hollow leg, said ground-engaging spike, said helical thread and said hand wheel are integrally formed.
 12. The freestanding drink holder and beach umbrella anchoring assembly of claim 11, wherein said hollow leg, said ground-engaging spike, said helical thread and said hand wheel are formed of plastic materials.
 13. The freestanding drink holder and beach umbrella anchoring assembly of claim 12, further including means on said hollow leg for securing the handle of a beach umbrella within the hollow leg.
 14. The freestanding drink holder and beach umbrella anchoring assembly of claim 13, wherein said means for securing the handle of a beach umbrella within the hollow leg comprises a pair of oppositely disposed setscrews.
 15. The freestanding drink holder and beach umbrella anchoring assembly of claim 8, wherein said annular flange includes a radial array of circular cutouts sized to receive said drink retaining cup; said drink retaining cups are cylindrical and said means for removably securing said drink retaining cups onto said hand wheel includes a radially extending lips around the openings of said drink retaining cups; and said hollow leg, said ground-engaging spike, said helical thread and said hand wheel are integrally formed.
 16. The freestanding drink holder and beach umbrella anchoring assembly of claim 15, wherein said hollow leg, said ground-engaging spike, said helical thread and said hand wheel are formed of plastic materials.
 17. The freestanding drink holder and beach umbrella anchoring assembly of claim 16, further including means on said hollow leg for securing the handle of a beach umbrella within the hollow leg.
 18. The freestanding drink holder and beach umbrella anchoring assembly of claim 17, wherein said means for securing the handle of a beach umbrella within the hollow leg comprises a pair of oppositely disposed setscrews.
 19. A freestanding drink holder and beach umbrella anchoring assembly comprising: a hollow leg having an open upper end and a closed bottom end and being sized to receive the handle of a beach umbrella; a ground-engaging spike formed on the closed bottom end of said hollow leg; a broad helical thread secured to the exterior surface of said hollow leg adjacent said ground-engaging spike; a hand wheel in the form of a wide annular flange around said hollow leg adjacent said open upper end; a plurality of drink retaining cups; means for removably securing said drink-retaining cups onto said hand wheel; and means for securing the handle of a beach umbrella within said hollow leg.
 20. The freestanding drink holder and beach umbrella anchoring assembly of claim 19, wherein said means for securing the handle of a beach umbrella within said hollow leg comprises a pair of oppositely disposed setscrews on said hollow leg. 